The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-12-01

was able successfully 70 pass TINS point
should be in no further danger from the in
fantry, and the cavalry could easily be
avoided by keeping away from the roads, or
could travel over routes where their horses
could not be used.
Satisfied that there were no pickets near
me, waded right in, as there was but little
water running; but oh, dear, there was lots
of mud concealed under the little bit of
water, and when pulled out on the other
side had gained several pounds in weight,
which had to be carried along up the next
hill by legs already nearly exhausted Igot
up that hill and down into another valley,
and had, as before, become so emboldened by
not meeting anything at all, that, to relieve
myself of the extra labor of climbing fences
and crawling over logs, as well as scratching
through briar bushes and tramping plowed
fields,
AGAIN TOOK TO THE ROAD.
/ had travelled all day and most of the
night, going steadily toward our lines, which
could not then be more than Is miles dis
tant, as it was but 20 miles from my starting
point to Washington. / knew then after an
all-day's tramp that / could not be far from
rest and glorious relief from the dreadful
strain or suspense in which / had placed
hyocA oluOC iCdfluk thC Up W lhab
point / could have retreated and saved N.Y.
self, but now that / had gotten outside of
the lines, no explanation would answer if
should be captured.
was fully satisfied that I was outside the
rebel lines, and with the exhilarated feeling
that came over me with the thought that the
next soldiers / should meet would be our
own boys in blue, i started up the hill at q
brisk dog trot, feeling almost as fresh as
when starting out in the morning.
This road up the hill was through strip
of dense woods, and you all know how dis
mally dark the path seems which leads
through lonely woods ON q cloudy night. 1
felt as forged along like the ostrich with
her head in the sand, that as" could see
nobody, nobody could see me" and was feel
ing comfortable enough.
1 wasn't afraid of the Black Horse Cavalry
in that darkness and gloom, because knew
very well that /, afoot, could easily hear the
approach of horses along the road in time to
get into the adjacent dark woods; so / was
all right, and in my mind planned my forth
coming interview with the surprised officers
of our army, whom would soon meet face
to face.
It's rule of law that scouts or spies must
report direct to the General commanding,
and not talk to anyone else. was going
to do better than this and report to the
President and Secretary of War, and show
the evidence that / carried; that there were
% per cent. of the rebel army sick with this
epidemic, while probably another % per
cent. were absent on sick leave or struggling,
and no advance was possible, while an at
tack by Banks on their rear would demoral-
ize them all badly.
"HALrlD
That's the word / heard come from out
the darkness, which startled me as if it were
uttered by goblin, and put me in tremor
of dismay. The voice came from the side of
the road and from behind. was so taken
by surprise that could not at the instant
see the object that spoke like death knell
this dreadful word.
In another instant the soldier, in o blue
uniform, appeared, pointing his gun at me, as
he said:
"Stand there!" then calling to o eomrads,
who had evidently been asleep. as he did not
Immediately answer.
l recovered my voice sufficiently to say to
the soldier in the blue blouse:
"You scared me half to death, until saw
your uniform"
He replied TO my observation:
. Yes; where did you come from?"
i had not yet seen his face distinctly, but
his voice and dialect at once aroused my
doubts and again put me on my guard, and
l said:
"I'll tell you all about it when your off,
Ger comes"
In another moment the rattling of saber
was heard, coming from the direction of the
woods, and, peering through the darkness
into the grove, / was able to distinguish the
outlines of house.
When the officer with his rattling scab-
bard got up to us was almost paralyzed to
see that he was dressed in the gray uniform
of a Confederate cavalry officer.
Addressing me courteously, he said:
"What in the name of all that's good
brings you out on this road on such dark
night, disturbing our sleepP"
He laughed as if he thought it good joke
on himself; it was only trifing little
laugh, but it gave me some encouragement.
why, have been hunting the house
where sick friend of mine was left after
the battle, and being unable to find him I
went to sleep in barn, but couldn't stand
that sort of rest, so got out and started
back home, and guess Pm lost"
Il guess you are"
The use of this word nearly gave me away.
"What regiment was your friend inf"
II don't know for sure, but think it's o
Maryland company. knew him in Texas,
but we were both from Maryland, and may
be he went with some Texas acqusint-
ances"
"Well, my friend, this Is rather singular
place and time to be found hunting sick
friend"
"Yes, know but as I tell you, am lost
in the darkness and must have taken the
wrong road when / left the barn. / will
show you my passes"
"oH, YOU HAVE PASSES, HAVE YOU?
Come into the house and we will make q
light; we can't make q light out here, be-
cause we are right on the line"
Aswe turned to leave, the sentry or guard
who had halted me whispered or spoke in q
low tone to the officer. / knew or suspected
that he was telling him that had expressed
some relief at seeing his blue uniform. The
officer merely nodded assent, as he invited
me to walk alongside Of him into the
| house.
/ took occasion to say to him that when
/ saw the blue coat was sure that / had
been caught by Yankee soldier, and ex-
pressed my great pleasure at having met
such courteous Southern gentlemen.
well, you came very near going into
| the Yankees hands; why, their cavalry come
out here every day, and were away inside Ol
this point to-day; but they generally go back
at night, and we come out to spend the